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An all-girls grammar school is replacing its pink uniform to be more “inclusive” as it prepares to admit boys. Fort Pitt Grammar School, in Chatham, Kent has been a single-sex school since 1929 but is to become co-educational and will welcome boys from the September 2026 intake. As part of the change, bosses are phasing out the school’s pale pink shirt, which will be replaced with a light blue collared top and a blue and pink tie. The school claimed that the move allowed them to “introduce a single, inclusive uniform for all students”. However, the introduction of blue shirts and ties for the girls has been criticised as “a load of tosh”. One Chatham resident said: “So blue is inclusive for girls but pink isn’t inclusive for boys?” Previous Fort Pitt pupils include Dame Zandra Rhodes, the fashion designer, and Naushabah Khan, the Labour MP for Gillingham and Rainham. Ms Khan said: “Of course, the pink shirt is a longstanding part of the school’s culture and history and makes the school uniform distinct. “I wore mine with pride, and it will be sad to see it go.” Many agree with the change, saying the colour is associated with “little girls” while others said there should be no issue with boys wearing pink. ‘Times are changing’ Silvia Tincello, 85, whose granddaughter goes to the school, said she believed the move is right as the colour is associated with “little girls”. She said her granddaughter would be unlikely to mind either, adding: “I think she would agree to get rid of it. “And I don’t think it will damage the tradition of the school. Times are changing.” However, another Chatham resident said: “We need to stop teaching boys that it’s embarrassing or shameful to wear colours.” John Carrick, 69, a former architect who lives in Strood, said: “I think it’s a load of tosh. The shirt should not have been changed as it’s just a uniform.” The Fort Pitt site lies on a former Napoleonic fortress and the school has been there since 1929. Initially the Chatham Technical Day School for Girls, it became the Medway Technical School for Girls in 1944. It went on to take grammar school status in 1984. Consultations were held in December 2023 and January 2024 regarding the proposal for Fort Pitt to become a co-educational establishment, alongside Chatham Grammar School and Holcombe Grammar School. The Department for Education approved the decision with the first intake due to start in September 2026. The sixth form is already co-educational. Change ‘marks a new chapter’ says school A statement from the school said: “Fort Pitt Grammar School has finalised its new uniform ahead of the admission of boys from September 2026, following consultation with a range of stakeholders. “The move away from the pink shirt enables us to introduce a single, inclusive uniform for all students – one that continues to reflect our school’s values of respect, aspiration, and resilience, and aligns with the principles of the forthcoming Wellbeing and Schools Bill. “We fully recognise the affection many hold for the pink shirt and the powerful symbolism it has carried over the years. “While this change marks a new chapter, the updated uniform remains significantly more affordable for families and continues to embody the strength, confidence, and sense of belonging that define the Fort Pitt community.”
